Article 57 - MRP Controllers

Article 57 - MRP Controllers


Article 57: How do SAP Fiori apps help MRP controllers and planners?

What planning and MRP capabilities do Fiori apps provide?

Fiori apps revolutionize materials planning by providing visual, interactive tools that help MRP controllers quickly analyze planning results, identify exceptions, and take corrective actions.

What is the Material Shortage app?

Purpose: Immediate identification and resolution of material shortages affecting operations

Key Capabilities:

  • Real-time shortage analysis across all materials and plants
  • Shortage impact assessment on production and customer orders
  • Priority-based sorting by business impact and urgency
  • Direct action execution to resolve shortages

Information Displayed:

  • Material number and description
  • Shortage quantity and impact timing
  • Affected sales orders or production requirements
  • Procurement proposals and resolution options
  • Lead times and possible resolution dates

Actions Available:

  • Convert purchase requisitions to purchase orders immediately
  • Expedite existing orders with suppliers
  • Create emergency procurement requests
  • Reallocate stock from other locations

What is the MRP Results app?

Purpose: Comprehensive analysis of MRP run results with exception-based management

Exception Categories:

  • Material shortages requiring procurement action
  • Rescheduling recommendations for existing orders
  • Excess stock situations needing attention
  • Invalid master data preventing proper planning

Visual Analytics:

  • Exception priority color-coding (red, yellow, green)
  • Quantity impact analysis and trending
  • Time-phased view of supply and demand
  • Drill-down capability to detailed stock requirements lists

What is the Stock Requirements List app?

Purpose: Modern, visual version of the traditional MD04 transaction

Enhanced Features:

  • Graphical timeline showing supply and demand over time
  • Interactive charts for better pattern recognition
  • Exception highlighting for critical situations
  • Mobile-optimized interface for field access

Planning Analysis:

  • Supply vs. demand balance visualization
  • Safety stock adequacy assessment
  • Lead time analysis and optimization opportunities
  • Lot sizing effectiveness evaluation

How do these apps improve planning efficiency?

Exception-Based Management:

  • Focus on problems rather than reviewing all materials
  • Priority-based action lists for maximum impact
  • Automated alerts for critical situations
  • Streamlined workflows from identification to resolution

Visual Analysis:

  • Graphical representations make patterns easier to identify
  • Color coding for quick status assessment
  • Interactive charts for deeper analysis
  • Mobile accessibility for planning reviews anywhere

Integrated Actions:

  • Direct execution of procurement actions from analysis screens
  • Embedded workflows reducing system navigation
  • Real-time updates reflecting actions taken
  • Collaboration tools for team coordination

What daily activities are supported?

Morning Planning Review:

  • Check overnight MRP results for new exceptions
  • Review material shortages and their business impact
  • Prioritize actions based on customer and production needs
  • Coordinate with procurement team on urgent requirements

Exception Resolution:

  • Convert critical PRs to purchase orders
  • Expedite delayed orders with suppliers
  • Reschedule non-critical requirements to balance workload
  • Update planning parameters based on performance analysis

Performance Monitoring:

  • Track planning accuracy and forecast performance
  • Monitor supplier delivery performance against plans
  • Analyze inventory turns and optimization opportunities
  • Review and adjust safety stock levels based on actual performance

What benefits do planners see?

Productivity Gains:

  • Faster exception identification and resolution
  • Reduced manual analysis time through automation
  • Better prioritization of planning activities
  • Mobile access enabling flexible work arrangements

Planning Quality:

  • Better visibility into supply and demand patterns
  • Improved coordination with procurement and production
  • Data-driven decisions supported by real-time analytics
  • Proactive problem identification and resolution



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